Poultry-coop.



E. PHILO. POULTRY COOP.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 5, 1910;

1,083,029. Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. W. PHILO.

POULTRY COOP. APPLIOA'IIOI IILBD no. 6. mo.

Patehted Dec. 30, 1913.

8 BBEBTB-BHEET 2.

E. W. PHILO. POULTRY 000?. APPLIUATION FILED DEG. 5 1910.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

"a SHEETS-SHEET a.

COLUMBIA 'PLANcuRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

EDGAR W. PHILO, 0F ELMIRA, NEW YORK.

POULTRY-COOR Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

Application filed December 5, 1910. Serial No. 595,636.

poultry coops.

It has become known that to obtain the best results in caring for poultry, that a careful housing of the fowls is most essential. The requirements are that a warm roosting and nesting place be provided which is perfectly ventilated and so constructed as to prevent an accumulation of moisture. I11 conjunction therewith a scratching-shed is required having a ground bottom and which is sufliciently open to light and air and in which the fowls may receive their feeding.

The object of the present invention is the provision of a'coop which will fulfil all of the above requirements and briefly stated the same consists of a warm and dry roosting and nesting coop port-ion in combination with an open scratching-shed portion.

A further object of the invention is to accommodate the double coop with a gabled sliding roof having an automatically adjustable lid portion and whereby either end of the coop may be entered from above.

A still further object is to provide sliding screen members within the roof portion which may be moved out of the way to gain access to the interior of the coop without any longitudinal movement of the roof member.

With these general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel combination, arrangement and construction of parts as will be hereinafter fully set forth, illustrated in the ac-' companying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this application and in which like designating numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views: Figure 1 is a general perspective view of the completely assembled device, Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through a portion thereof, Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the top lines 55 of Fig. 3 showing the roof member with the roof removed therefrom, Fig. 4C is a transverse-sectional view taken substantially upon line 4-4 of Fig. 3, and showing the complete end of the top member with the screen positioned at one side thereof, Fig. 5 is a transverse section upon members upon said top, Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the coop foundation showing the connection of a coop corner therewith, Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view of the complete corner of the coop illustrating the joint employed in the knock-down construction, Fig.

8 is a detail view of one of the nesting section sides, Fig. 9 is a detail side view of the feeding end of the coop, and Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the roof retaining device.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the rectangular base or foundation frame 12 will be noted as provided with the coop structure 13 mounted thereon and being di vided substantially at the center thereof into a roosting and nesting shed portion 14 at one end and an open air scratching-shed portion 15 at the other end, while a sliding top member 16 is mounted thereon.

The foundation frame 12 above referred to being of rectangular form is provided with a central dividing strip 17 substantially of the same height as the sides 18 and ends 19 thereof, while the top edge of the frame is provided with a rabbet or shoulder 20 extending entirely around the same and adapted to receive thereon the surrounding base cleat 21 of the coop proper, which is provided with a corresponding rabbeted portion. Said foundation frame is designed to be sunk into the soil substantially onehalf of its height and in the roosting end thereof, a flooring 22 mounted upon cross pieces 23 is provided, which latter are adapted to seat upon the ground. Said flooring is preferably provided with a water proof covering 24:.

The coop roosting end 14 is sealed upon its three outer sides by suitable sheathing 25 seated into corner posts 26 and side posts 27,which posts are shortened at their tops as at 28 to accommodate the sliding top member, while their lower extremities form feet 29 which fit over the foundation frame 12 and assist to hold the members in assembled relations. Corresponding to the base cleat 21 the entire top of the coop is provided with a rabbeted cleat 21 forming the groove 30 entirely around the same for receiving therein a frame member 31 supporting a fabric or muslin covering 32 with a depending curtain portion 33 normally extending into the coop and dividing the interior thereof.

Stretched over the marginal cleats 21 and 21, an impervious lining 3% is designed to furnish a heat insulating air space 35 completely around three sides of said nesting half of the coop, while vertical strips 36 secured to said cleats serve to strengthen said sides and secure the lining in place. Said lining 34 may be formed of any suitable material, but a roof sheeting such as paroide is preferable.

Centrally of the coop and oppositely an ranged and alining with the central transverse strip 17 of the foundation when the parts are assembled, there are provided vertically arranged grooved ways 37 adapted to slidably receive a parting strip 38 therein, which latter assumes its normal position seated upon the strip 17 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. It is obvious that for providing a desired height of partition between the two portions of the coop, that any number of strips similar to the member 38 may be employed, while the muslin covered frame 31, normally positioned over the nesting portion 1 1 as shown in Fig. 2, properly positions the depending curtain 33 for closing the space between the parts of the coop, which latter curtain depends substantially to the top edge of said parting strip 38. Said muslin frame 31, 32 is slidable longitudinally from its normal position over the nesting section and the curtain 33 may be dispensed with if desired by turning the same upwardly and rearwardly over the frame.

The scratching-shed portion 15 gives free access to the soil at the bottom thereof, which should be occasionally spaded or broken up while the opposite sides of the shed are open and protected by a suitable wire screen 39.

The cover member 16 comprises opposite gabled ends 40 with opposite side members 11 projecting slightly therebelow, for allowing said side members to fit over the coop for reception upon the post ends 28. A rear roof section 42 is permanently mounted upon said gabled end members with its upper surface lying flush with the apices 43 thereof, while a front roof section 44 is hinged to said rear roof by suitable members 15 arranged along the roof ridge. A central gable strip 46 similar to the end members is provided having a horizontal slot 47 therein as shown in Fig. 5. A bolt or pin 48 running in said slot connects the adjacent ends of a double link member 19 having its upper end hinged to the interior of the front top portion 44.

Alinmg inclined strips 50 are provided oppositely arranged upon the gabled ends and center piece of the top for receiving a frame work 51 preferably covered with a wire netting 52, In line with the bottoms of the ends 10 and spaced above the bottoms of the side members are internal cleats 53 by which the cover slidably rests upon the edge of the coop. The front one of said cleats 53 is further adapted to maintain the frame 51 inclinedly positioned over the front portion of the coop and beneath the hinged roof member 44, it being noted that a separate screen frame 51-52 is employed in the separate ends of the roof. Said screens are adapted to be tilted and pushed uwardly beneath the stationary roof portion or gaining access to the front of the coop and thus changing their position from that shown in Fig. 5 to the one assumed in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

For retaining the roof member upon the coop, a securing means is employed consisting of cooperating brackets 71 and 72 mounted respectively upon the side bar 41 of the top and the side post 27 of the coop. The engagement of said members as shown in Fig. 10, it will be noted, securely retains the members together when the top is slid longitudinally to the completely closed position.

A solid wooden slide TShaving an upper and lower coiiperating rabbeted portion is mounted between the rabbeted edges of the opposite strips and 21 and at the rear of the coop, while at the front thereof and similarly positioned is the muslin covered screen or door 7 1. Each of these screens or doors is slidable within the air space formed at opposite sides of the nesting portion of the coop. This construction it will be evident affords a means for completely closing the scratching-end of the coop by outwardly sliding said frames 73 and 74 to completely close the openings protected by the netting members 39, it being further noted that the end of said coop portion is normally closed by the glass sash 6:2.

The roof members are preferably provided with the frame work 54 having a roof material 55 secured thereover.

\Vithin the roosting coop portion 14 and upon the opposite sides thereof, suitable cleats 56 are employed for movably mounting a. roost member as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. This latter member consists of a rectangular frame 57 having a bottom 58 of thin material such as roofing While upon its ends are mounted the block members 59 spanned by the roost pole 60. It is evident that with this basket form of roost, the same may be easily manipulated and in the day time the roost is adapted to be seated upon its side and out of the way, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The opposite end of the coop, being the end of the scratching-shed portion thereof, is provided with an inwardly hinged window sash 61 having removable glass panels 62. Within the coop and upon the end thereof beneath the end opening 63, which is closed by said window, there is provided a shelf 64 being open at its ends and having an inturning edge 65 to prevent the feed from falling or being drawn out of the metallic troughs 66 seated within said shelf. Connecting the front portion of the shelf with a strip 67 positioned abovethe window are guard strips 68 slightly spaced apart and through which the fowls may receive food from said troughs. These troughs are preferably provided two in number in opposite sides of the shelf formed by the dividing partition 69 thereof, the adjacent ends of said troughs being slightly spaced therefrom. Saidv window sash 61 is secured to the coop end by suitable spring hinges 70 adapted to normally retain the window in its closed position, but easily opened for inserting food in the troughs by pressure ex teriorly exerted thereagainst.

From the above description the complete operation of the device is believed to be evi dent. The roosting section 14 being provided with roosts 58 is adapted by reason of the heat insulating space 35 combined with the muslin screen top 32 to provide a warm perfectly ventilated inclosure for the fowls and one that is free from dampness. The roof member 16 is slidable in either direction for gaining access to one end of the coop while completely closing the other, while by sliding rearwardly either one of the screen frames 52 beneath the rear'roost section 42, access may be gained to either end of the coop while the muslin screen 32 may be positioned over either end thereof as desired and the depending curtain may be likewise manipulated as heretofore intimated therein. The operation of the feeding device has already been fully explained.

While the forms of the invention herein shown and described are what are believed to be preferable embodiments thereof, it is nevertheless to be understood that changes may be made in form, proportion and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A coop comprising arectangular framework, a central parting strip positioned therein and dividing the same into two end portions, a removable floor positioned in one of said portions, said rectangular framework having a rabbeted-out shoulder continuously extending around the top thereof, a rectangular coop member adapted to fit upon said frame work, a slidable partition centrally positioned in said coop member dividing the same into a closed and an open portion, netting positioned at opposite sides of said open portion, a normally closed window positioned at the end of the latter, marginal strips interiorly positioned upon the sides of said closed portion, water-proof sheets mounted upon said strips and forming air spaces between the same and the sides of said portion, oppositely arranged sliding frames mounted between said lining and sides and adapted to be moved across said netting, and a cover member slidably mounted upon said coop member.

2. A coop comprisingarectangular framework, a central parting strip positioned therein and dividing the same into two end portions, a removable floor positioned in one of said portions, said rectangular framework having a rabbeted-out shoulder continuously extending around the top thereof, a rectangular coop member adapted to fit upon said frame-work, a slidable partition centrally positioned in said coop member dividing the same int-o a closed and an open portion, netting positioned at opposite sides of said open portion, a normally closed window positioned at the end of the latter, marginal strips interiorly positioned upon the sides of said closed portion, water-proof sheets mounted upon said strips and forming air spaces between the same and the sides of said portion, oppositely arranged sliding frames mounted between said lining and sides and adapted to be moved across said netting, and a cover member slidablymounted on said coop member.

3. A coop comprising arectangular framework, a central parting strip positioned therein and dividing the same into two end portions, a removable floor positioned in one of said portions, said rectangular framework having a rabbeted-o-ut shoulder continuously extending around the top thereof, arectangular coop member adapted to fit upon said frame work, a slidable partition centrally positioned in said coop member dividing the same into a closed and an open portion, netting positioned at opposite sides of said open portion, a normally closed window positioned at the end of the latter, marginal strips interiorly positioned upon the sides of said closed portion, waterproof sheets mounted upon said strips and forming air spaces between the same and the sides of said portion, oppositely arranged sliding frames mounted between said lining and sides and adapted to be moved across said netting, and

a cover member slidably mounted on said coop member.

4. A coop comprising a rectangular frame.

work, a central parting strip. positioned therein and d1v1d1ng the same into two end portlons, a removable floor positioned in one of said portions, said rectangular framework having a rabbeted-out shoulder continuously extending around the top thereof, a rectangular coop member adapted to fit upon said frame-work, a slidable partition centrally positioned in said coop member dividing the same into a closed and an open portion, netting positioned at opposite sides of said open portion, a normally closed window positioned at the end of the latter, marginal strips interiorly positioned upon the sides of said closed portion, water-proof sheets mounted upon said strips and forming air spaces between the same and the sides of said portion, oppositely arranged sliding frames mounted between said lining and sides and adapted to be moved across said netting, and a cover member mounted on said coop member.

5. A coop comprising arectangular framework, a central parting strip positioned therein and dividing the same into two end portions, a removable floor positioned in one of said portions, said rectangular frame work having a rabbeted-out shoulder con tinuously extending around the top thereof, a two part coop member, depending post members secured to the latter, a rabbetedout base around the bottom of said coop member, said rabbeted portions adapted to inter-engage, said post members adapted to fit over said rectangular frame work, and a cover member slidably mounted upon said coop member.

(5. A coop comprising a rectangular framework, a central parting strip positioned therein and dividing the same into two end portions, a removable floor positioned in one of said portions, said rectangular framework having a rabbeted-out shoulder continuously extending around the top thereof, a two part coop member, depending post members secured to the latter, a rabbetedout base around the bottom of said coop member, said rabbeted portions adapted to inter-engage, said post members adapted to fit over said rectangular frame-work, and a cover member slidably-mounted on said coop member.

7. A coop comprising a rectangular framework, a central parting strip positioned therein and dividing the same into two end portions, a removable floor positioned in one of said portions, said rectangular framework having a rabbeted-out shoulder continuously extending around the top thereof, a two part coop member, depending post members secured to the latter, a rabbetedout base around the bottom of said coop member, said rabbeted portions adapted to interengage, said post members adapted to fit over said rectangular frame-work, and a cover member for said coop.

8. A coop comprising a base frame-work,

a coop member mounted thereon, a slidable cover positioned upon said coop member, a vertically slidable parting strip positioned within said coop member, a spaced lining positioned in one end thereof, a muslin screen slidably mounted over the said latter coop end, a depending curtain carried by one end of said frame and extending substantially in alinement with said artin strip, said coop member having anot er en portion, opposite sliding frames adapted for closing said portion, and a spring-pressed normally closed window sash hinged to one end of the latter.

9, A coop comprising a base frame-work, a coop member mounted thereon, a slidable cover positioned upon said coop member, a vertically slidable parting strip positioned within said coop member, a spaced lining positioned in one end thereof, a muslin screen slidably mounted over the said latter coop end, a depending curtain carried by one end of said irame and extending substantially in alinementwith said parting strip, said coop member having another end portion, opposite sliding frames adapted for closing said portion, a sprin -pressed normally closed window sash hinge to one end of the latter, slidable screens positioned in said cover member and a securing means carried by said cover and coop members adapted to retain said members against only lateral displacement upon the cover member assuming its closed position.

10. A coop having a nesting and a scratching-shed portion, a heat insulating lining provided in the former portion and screen sides upon the latter ortion, sliding frames adapted to close said screen sides slidably mounted behind said lining, a sliding muslin frame movable over both of said portions and having a dividing depending curtain, a sliding cover member, and sliding screens positioned within said member.

11. A coop having a nesting com artment and a scratching-compartment, a ining in the nesting compartment spaced from the Walls of such compartment, screen sides for the scratching-compartment, frames slidable to close the screen sides and in open position lying between the lining and outer walls of the nesting compartment, a slidable frame movable over both said compartments and having a pervious covering, a depending curtain carried by said slidable frame, a cover member, and a shiftable screen in said cover member.

12. A coop having in combination, a nesting compartment and a scratching compart ment, a screen side for the scratching compartment, a door for covering or exposing the screen side of the scratcl'iing compartment, a screen side in the nesting compartment, means for closing communication between the nesting compartment and the In testimony whereof I afiix my signature scratching compartment at Will, a slidable in presence of two Witnesses.

cover-member movable over said compart- EDGAR W. PHILO. ments, screen-frames carrying screens mount- Witnesses 5 ed in said cover-member, and roof-members A. M. WILSON,

carried by said cover-member. L. CLOUD NEWMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 01' Patents, Washington, D. G. 

